Car makers don’t need more assistance: Mirabella

Opposition industry spokeswoman
Sophie Mirabella
says ensuring the car industry’s future isn’t about providing more government assistance, but rather would be determined by how companies used existing assistance.

“I don’t think it’s about providing a greater dollar figure for subsidies, I think it’s about using the existing funding in a much better way," Ms Mirabella told ABC Radio on Friday.

“It would be a very sad day for Australia but unfortunately it looks like it could be inevitable," Mr Nasser said in Melbourne on Thursday.

“It’s difficult to predict [when it will die] because it also depends on the supply base and as soon as you have a reduction in the scale of domestic manufacturing – let’s assume one of the three decides to exit Australia in terms of manufacturing – then you end up potentially with a sub-scale supplier infrastructure. Once that happens, I think it’s a domino effect."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she did not agree with Mr Nasser and the government would continue to work with the auto sector as it tires to ensure economic diversity that includes manufacturing.

“We are prepared to continue to work with the car industry," Ms Gillard told media in Sydney’s west on Friday.